SUNDARI, by Bhai Vir Singh, first published in 1898, is commonly acknowledged to be the first novel written in the Punjabi language. The story, set in the eighteenth century, depicts the trials and heroism of an imaginary character, Sundar Kaur (Sundari for short) who, born in a Punjabi Khatri Hindu

CHHACHHRAULI, a small town about 12 km northeast of Jagadhri (30° 10`N, 77° 18`E) in Ambala district of Haryana, was the capital of the princely state of Kalsia. Guru Gobind Singh is believed to have visited Chhachhrauli during his sojourn at Kapal Mochan in 1688. The site was brought to

ISHAR SINGH MARHANA (1878-1941), Akali activist and Ghadr revolutionary, was born on 1 January 1878, younger of the two sons of BhaIJind Singh, a SandhuJatt, and Mai Chand Kaur, of farming stock of the village of Marhana, near Tarn Taran, in Ainritsar district of the Punjab. He learnt Gurmukhi

RAJAS OF THE PUNJAB, by Sir Lepel H. Griffin, first published in 1870 and reprinted in 1970 by the Languages Department, Punjab, Patiala, contains accounts of the principal Sikh princely states in the Punjab and of their political relations with the paramount power. The author admits that the title

SURAIN SINGH, BHAI (1895-1921), one of the Nankana Sahib martyrs, came from Chakk No. 80 Nizampur Mula Singhvala, district Sheikhupura. He was the second of the six children of Bhai Ram Singh and Mai Hukam Kaur. He learnt Gurmukhi from the village priest and was initiated into the Khalsa Panth

DAYA KAUR, RAM (d. 1823), widow of Gurbakhsh Singh of the Nishanavali principality of the Sikhs who ruled over Ambala, assumed control of the misi and the family estate upon her husband`s death in 1786. She ruled over the territory remarkably well for nearly 37 years. Sir Lepel Griffin

MAHAN SINGH (d. 1790), son of Charhat Singh of Sukkarchakkia misl, was young in years when his father died. During his minority, his mother, Mai Desan, carried on the administration, with the help of her brothers. As soon as he came of age, Mahan Singh embarked upon a career

RAJINDAR KAUR, BIBI (1739-1791) or Rajindari, Patiala princess known for her valorous qualities, was the granddaughter of Baba Ala Singh. The only child of her father, Bhumla Singh, who had died when she was barely four, she was brought up by her grandfather, and, in 1751, married to Chaudhari

TAKHT SINGH, BHAI (1870-1937), a pioneer of women\'s education, was born at Firozpur around 1870. His father, Deva Singh Nihang, is said to have fought in both of the Anglo Sikh wars (1845-46 and 1848-49). Takht Singh passed the High Proficiency (Vidvan) examination in 1887 from the Oriental College

FATEH KAUR (d. 1773), popularly known as Mai Fatto, was the wife of Baba Ala Singh, founder of the Patiala family. She was the eldest daughter of Chaudhari Khana, a zamindar of Kaleke, in present day Sangrur district of the Punjab. It is said that at her birth her

MAHITAB KAUR (d. 1813), the first wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, was the daughter of Gurbakhsh Singh Kanhaiya and Sada Kaur. Sada Kaur persuaded her father-in-law, Jai Singh Kanhaiya, after her husband had been killed in a show of arms with Maharn Singh Sukkarchakkia, to betroth her daughter to

RAJINDER KAUR, DR (1931-1989), journalist and politician, was born at Amritsar on 10 February 1931, the daughter of the famous Akali leader, Master Tara Singh. She was educated at Khalsa College, Amritsar, Panjab University, Chandigarh, and Camp College, New Delhi, and attained the degrees of M.A. (Philosophy), B.T. (Bachelor of